Vacuum breaker



Nov. 19, 1968 R. E. RAINE ETAL 3,411,524

VACUUM BREAKER Filed on. 7, 1 966 INVENTORS. 19085? 7' E. Efl/NE PAUL L.TRflYLOQ flrrae/vens United States Patent 3,411,524 VACUUM BREAKERRobert E, Raine, 27666 Eldena Drive, and Paul L. Traylgori 27669 EldenaDrive, both of San Pedro, Calif.

Filed Oct. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 585,076 Claims. (Cl. 137-216) The presentinvention relates to a vacuum breaker, and more particularly to a vacuumbreaker which is adapted to be mounted upon the upper end of a usualdrain standpipe.

It is common practice in the construction of residential structures toprovide a vertically oriented discharge conduit or standpipe adjacentthe laundry tray or washing machine area. With this arrangement thehousewife can insert the end of the washing machine drain line in thestandpipe to provide the necessary drainage of the machine.Occasionally, the homeowner also has a water softener or similarappliance which must also be periodically drained.

The usual one and one-half inch standpipe is ample to receive theconventional size washing machine discharge conduit, but is not quitelarge enough to take another line of the same size from the watersoftener. Consequently, in order to use the existing standpipe, andthereby avoid the expense of new plumbing, there has heretofore beenprovided specially designed vacuum breaker attachments which fit upon orotherwise adapt the existing standpipe to receive more than the onedrain line. Such special fittings are relatively expensive, and oftenrequire installation by a plumber.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide avacuum breaker which is adapted to be quickly mounted upon the usualdrain standpipe to fit within the space in the standpipe alongside awashing machine drain line or the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vacuum breaker of theaforementioned character which is made of relatively inexpensiveplastic, and which includes walls defining an arcuate space adapted toreceive a portion of the circular rim of the standpipe, one of the wallsbeing deflectable to permit a wedging fit. No special threads arerequired on the standpipe, and no special attachments, fittings, orclips are needed to mount the vacuum breaker in position. The homeownerneed only wedge the vacuum breaker upon the upper rim of the standpipeto secure it in position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a vacuum breakerof the aforementioned character in which the deflectable wall thereofincludes integral, elongated ribs. for strength thereby permitting usageof inexpensive, thin wall construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a vacuum breakerhaving air gap openings for the breaking of any vacuum which mightotherwise develop, and which further includes a gradually sloping rampto direct the water radially inwardly of the centerline of the inletpassage.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum breaker according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the vacuum breaker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the vacuum breaker;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vacuum breaker mountedin position upon the usual standpipe,

alongside a conventional washing machine drain line; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a vacuum breaker 10which comprises, generally, a semicylindrical casing 12 having acomplemental cap 14 surmounted by an integral stub pipe or conduit 16; adischarge portion 18 connected to the casing 12 and having a lowerextremity characterized by an arcuate wall 20; and an elongated, arcuateskirt 22 connected to the casing 12 and spaced from the arcuate wall 20to form a space 24, as best viewed in FIG. 3, whereby the vacuum breakercan fit upon a portion of the upper rim of a usual and conventionaldrain standpipe 26.

The vacuum breaker 10 is preferably made of high impact styrene orsimilar plastic. The cap is molded separately and includes a peripheralflange or lip 28 which overlies the upper rim of the casing 12. Asuitable adhesive or solvent is applied to the casing and to the lip 28to secure the cap 14 in position.

As best viewed in FIG. 4, the rear of the casing 12 is defined by avertically oriented, flat wall 30 which extends downwardly the fulllength of the vacuum breaker 10 to also form the rear wall of thedischarge portion 18. As will be seen, this wall could also be madeconcave if tooling costs permit. 7

The arcuate front of the casing 12 is formed by a forward or outer wall32 which, together with the rear wall 30, defines an internal chamber 34located directly beneath the conduit 16.

The casing Wall 32 which defines the chamber 34 includes a pair ofrectangular apertures or openings 36 to vent the chamber 34 toatmosphere and thereby break any vacuum which might otherwise form inthe chamber. The transverse cross-section of the chamber 34 is madeconsiderably larger than the cross-section of the conduit 16 to providea fairly large chamber 34 for adequate venting. This, however, locatesthe centerline of the chamber outwardly of the centerline of the conduit16, and also outwardly of the edge or rim of the standpipe 26.

It is important to note that the main object of this invention is toprovide a vacuum breaker 10 adapted to fit within a very small part ofthe standpipe 26. For example, in FIGS. 5 and 6 the standpipe 26 isillustrated with a usual washing machine hose 37 mounted in position fordrainage, Only a very limited space is left in the standpipe toaccommodate the discharge portion 18 of the vacuum breaker 10. It is forthis reason that the discharge portion 18 is of segment shape. Ofcourse, the rear wall 30 could be made concave to fit within thecrescent shaped space available adjacent the hose 37, but a fiat Wall 30is preferred for tooling simplicity.

In any event, there is not suflicient space available to merely extendthe conduit 16 into the standpipe and it becomes necessary to provide astructure in which the circular cross-section of the conduit 16 can bemodified to fit within the available space. In the vacuum breaker 10this is done by locating the conduit 16 outwardly and redirecting theinflowing water from the conduit centerline 35 to a more inwardlylocated centerline 33 of the segment shaped discharge portion 18.

As best viewed in FIG. 5, water direction is accomplished by the flooror base of the chamber 34, which also forms a part of the dischargeportion 18, as will be seen. The floor is faired or curved inwardly anddownwardly to form a ramp or transition section 38 which ischaracterized by a gradually decreasing cross-section in a downwarddirection. The transition section 38 directs the water from the chamber34 into the discharge portion 18 with minimum velocity loss in aconcentrated stream of segment shape along the inwardly disposedcenterline 33.

The segment shaped cross-section of the discharge portion 18 is formedby the rear wall 30 and by the arcuate wall 20. The wall 20 extendsupwardly and then curves outwardly to form the floor of the casing 12.The outer face of the lower portion of the wall 20 is adapted to nestagainst the inner face of the rim of the standpipe 26 in close relation;as best viewed in FIG. 6.

The arcuate skirt 22, which is defined by molding the arcuate slot orspace 24 in the wall 20, is adapted to engage the outer face of thestandpipe 26 to mount the vacuum breaker 10 in position upon thestandpipe. The slot or arcuate space 24 between the wall 20 and theskirt 22 also narrows or converges in an upward direction so that thevaccum breaker 10 can be wedged and thereby securely mounted upon therim of the standpipe 26. Such wedging tends to deflect the skirt 22outwardly.

Three vertically elongated, radially disposed fins or ribs 40 areintegrally molded to the casing 12 and to the skirt 22 to strengthen theskirt during its deflection. The skirt 22, and the other components ofthe vacuum breaker 10 are preferably made of low cost, thin wall moldedconstruction.

In use, the water softener or appliance hose, as indicated at 44 in FIG.4, is slipped onto the conduit 16 in fluid tight relation. The vacuumbreaker 10 is then forcibly mounted upon the standpipe 26 by wedging theupper rim of the standpipe within the space 24, as best viewed in FIGS.and 6. The compact manner in which the discharge portion 18 fits withinthe standpipe 26 leaves ample room for the Washing machine hose 37. Theopenings 36 provide the desired vacuum breaking action during dischargeof water from the hose 44 into vacuum breaker 10, and the transitionsection 38 redirects the water from the center line 35 of the conduit 16to the centerline 33 of the discharge portion 18.

By utilizing the relatively thin wall, plastic structure, the vacuumbreaker is light, easily handled, relatively inexpensive to manufacture,and characterized by a skirt 22 sufficiently strong to permit wedging ofthe unit onto the usual standpipe 26. No special fittings, attachmentclips, or plumbingare therefore necessary to enable use of the existingstandpipe 26 for drainage of more than one appliance, such as a washingmachine and a water softener.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A Vacuum breaker for connection in the discharge line of anappliance, water softener or the like, and mountable upon the upper endof a drain standpipe, said vacuum breaker comprising:

a casing including a chamber having air gap openings,

said casing being adapted for connection to the discharge line of anappliance to receive liquid in said chamber;

a discharge portion depending from said casing for receiving liquid fromsaid chamber, said casing and said discharge portion including atransition section therebetween having a curving surface for directingliquid flow inwardly, said discharge portion further having a walladapted to fit against the inner surface of a standpipe in compactrelation therewith; and

an elongated skirt located adjacent said wall and defining a spacetherebetween for receiving the upper end of the standpipe.

2. A vacuum breaker according to claim 1 wherein said casing includes aninlet for receiving said liquid along a substantially verticallyoriented first centerline, wherein said discharge portion is verticallyoriented and located to discharge liquid along a second centerlinedisplaced inwardly of said first centerline, and wherein said transitionsection directs said liquid from said first centerline toward saidsecond centerline.

3. A vacuum breaker according to claim 1 wherein said discharge portionis segment shaped.

4. A vacuum breaker according to claim 1 wherein said space between saidwall and said skirt is arcuate and narrows upwardly whereby said vacuumbreaker can be wedged onto said standpipe for secure mounting.

5. A vacuum breaker according to claim 4 and including elongated ribsattached to said wall for strengthening said wall during said wedgemounting of the vacuum breaker.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,105 4/1934 Stoddard 137216X 2,288,247 6/1942 Kunstorff 137-216 2,295,986 9/1942 Boosey 1372l62,631,448 3/1953 Garman 137-216 X 2,638,112 5/1953 Shelton 137-2163,005,329 10/1961 Stone 137-216 X 3,086,543 4/1963 McAuley 1372l6STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

1. A VACUUM BREAKER FOR CONNECTION IN THE DISCHARGE LINE OF AN APPLIANCE WATER SOFTENER OR THE LIKE, AND MOUNTABLE UPON THE UPPER END OF A DRAIN STANDPIPE, SAID VACUUM BREAKER COMPRISING: A CASING INCLUDING A CHAMBER HAVING AIR GAP OPENINGS, SAID CASING BEING ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO THE DISCHARGE LINE OF AN APPLIANCE TO RECEIVE LIQUID IN SAID CHAMBER; A DISCHARGE PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID CASING FOR RECEIVING LIQUID FROM SAID CHAMBER, SAID CASING AND SAID DISCHARGE PORTION INCLUDING A TRANSITION SECTION THEREBETWEEN HAVING A CURVING SURFACE FOR DETECTING LIQUID FLOW INWARDLY, SAID DISCHARGE PORTION FURTHER HAVING A WALL ADAPTED TO FIT AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF A STANDPIPE IN COMPACT RELATION THEREWITH; AND AND ELONGATED SKIRT LOCATED ADJACENT SAID WALL AN DEFINING A SPACE THEREBETWEEN FOR RECEIVING THE UPPER END OF THE STANDPIPE. 